Teamwork, Targets, Technology, and Tight Control in Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes: the Pilot 4T Study

Context Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) do not meet glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) targets. Objective This work aimed to assess HbA1c outcomes in children with new-onset T1D enrolled in the Teamwork, Targets, Technology and Tight Control (4T) Study. Methods HbA1c levels were compared between the 4T and historical cohorts. HbA1c differences between cohorts were estimated using locally estimated scatter plot smoothing (LOESS). The change from nadir HbA1c (month 4) to 12 months post diagnosis was estimated by cohort using a piecewise mixed-effects regression model accounting for age at diagnosis, sex, ethnicity, and insurance type. We recruited 135 youth with newly diagnosed T1D at Stanford Children’s Health. Starting July 2018, all youth within the first month of T1D diagnosis were offered continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) initiation and remote CGM data review was added in March 2019. The main outcomes measure was HbA1c. Results HbA1c at 6, 9, and 12 months post diagnosis was lower in the 4T cohort than in the historic cohort (–0.54% to –0.52%, and –0.58%, respectively). Within the 4T cohort, HbA1c at 6, 9, and 12 months post diagnosis was lower in those patients with remote monitoring than those without (–0.14%, –0.18% to –0.14%, respectively). Multivariable regression analysis showed that the 4T cohort experienced a significantly lower increase in HbA1c between months 4 and 12 (P < .001). Conclusion A technology-enabled, team-based approach to intensified new-onset education involving target setting, CGM initiation, and remote data review statistically significantly decreased HbA1c in youth with T1D 12 months post diagnosis.